CONTINUES UNTIL THOSE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE REGION... ONE TEAM THAT THRIVED UNDER THOSE LIGHTS IN 2013 WAS THE MIDDLEBURY TIGERS... FRESH OFF THEIR FIRST STATE TITLE IN OVER 20 YEARS, THE TIGERS ARE LOOKING TO CLAW THEIR WAY BACK TO THE TOP.. MIDDLEBURY WENT UNDEFEATED LAST SEASON, DEFEATING SOUTH BURLINGTON IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BY 20 POINTS... EVERY TEAM LOSES KEY SENIORS, BUT NOT EVERY TEAM LOSES THEIR QUARTERBACK, AND THEY HAVE A POTENTIAL GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE IN AUSTIN ROBINSON RETURNING BEHIND CENTER... WITH SIZE ON THE LINES AND SKILL PLAYERS LIKE BOBBY RITTER AND CULLEN HATHAWAY ADDING A DYNAMIC AND SPEEDY BACKFIELD TO THE MIX, THE TIGERS HAVE NO PLANS OF BEING DETHRONED ANYTIME SOON .. WE KIND OF LIKE IT PLAYING WITH A LITTLE CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER YOU KNOW COACH ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT PLAYING WITH A LITTLE CHIP AND THAT KIND OF FUELS US TO STAY FOCUSED BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM SO WE CAN ALL PLAY AND ON THE FIELD AND DOWN AT THE PRACTICE FIELD. WE NEED TO KIND OF FORGET ABOUT LAST YEAR AND PLAY THIS YEAR AS IT'S OWN YEAR YOU KNOW FORGET. LIKE GET THE SAME GOALS SAME AMBITION SAME HUNGER THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AND JUST CHANNEL IT INTO THIS YEAR. AND THEY WILL BE FORCED TO FORGET ABOUT LAST YEAR QUICKLY... WEEK ONE THEY HEAD TO ESSEX, WEEK TWO THEY ARE DOWN I-89 TO FACE HARTFORD... DENNIS SMITH wouldn't HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY... WE FEEL THOSE ARE TWO OF THE TOUGHER TEAMS IN THE STATE GOING INTO THIS SEASON. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOME OTHER SURPRISES IF YOU KNOW WE FACE THEM DOWN THE ROAD TOO BUT WE DON'T WANT TO AVOID ANYBODY, WE LIKE COMPETITION AND WE LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE STAND YOU KNOW IF WE LOSE ONE WE LOSE BOTH, YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO KEEP WORKING. WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT OUR WEAKNESSES ARE AND THEN TRY TO GET BETTER AS THE SEASON GOES ON. MIDDLEBURY WILL TAKE ON FAIR HAVEN THIS WEEKEND IN A SCRIMMAGE BEFORE NEXT